Poor Cockerel

[Nekatlla]

Somehow my poor cockerel got stuck outside today, I opened a different door than normal because of wind direction, he made it out but didn't go back in. When I picked him up and put him back in he went and started eating and drinking like nothing was wrong but I noticed he was limping. When I checked out his foot it is frozen hard. Is there anything to do for this? It also looks like he may have been picked on, his comb isn't frost bit but looks like its bitten and a little bloody. Please help I'm quite worried and feel really horrible.

 

[lazy gardener]

Can you bring him in to thaw out? I've never dealt with this, so can't advise.

 

[Chickassan]

You can slowly warm his foot back up in warm water. But take your time, heating him back up too quickly can cause more damage and be very painful. As for his comb if you have Neosporin or an antibacterial cream like it gently apply that to his comb. Poor fella.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

so sorry

 

[Nekatlla]

Can you bring him in to thaw out? I've never dealt with this, so can't advise.

I thought of this but think it would be too quick, its about 28 F in the coop and now that its closed up it will come up to a bout 34 or 35 F, I was thinking of letting him stay with the others as hes the biggest in the new birds and they always huddle together at night so it will slowly come back to normal. I hope.

 

[Nekatlla]

The neosporin worked well on the comb and wattles, they are ok the foot thawed out and he seems ok-ish, he’s definitely not happy anymore, his foot is twice the size of the other and blisters on both feet, is there anything to give him so as to not worry about infection? I assume this is like serious frostbite in a person where the skin will fall off and reheal but never be quite right again. If any vets or people with expierience can weigh in I’d appreciate it. I don’t like to see animals suffer.

 

[junebuggena]

Neosporin and wait and see. Believe it or not, chickens have remarkable healing abilities. And they can cope quite well even if they lose most of a foot to frostbite.

 

[Eggcessive]

So sorry about your rooster’s accidental frostbite. It might be best to bring him inside your house for a few days in a dog crate with food and water. I would use a clean old towel for bedding. I have never treated this severe of frostbite before, but Vetericyn wound spray is very good (just don’t use that if he is left outside in the coop, only in the warmth of your house. I am not sure if you should try soaking the leg in warm betadine water or Hibiclens and water. Perhaps check with a vet or emergency animal hospital over the phone to check if this would be appropriate treatment. It can take days to realize the full extent of the frostbite damage to feet, combs, and wattles. He can live if he should lose his foot or leg. Hoping for a good recovery. Google frostbite in chicken’s feet, and look at images for more info.

 

[Nekatlla]

So sorry about your rooster’s accidental frostbite. It might be best to bring him inside your house for a few days in a dog crate with food and water. I would use a clean old towel for bedding. I have never treated this severe of frostbite before, but Vetericyn wound spray is very good (just don’t use that if he is left outside in the coop, only in the warmth of your house. I am not sure if you should try soaking the leg in warm betadine water or Hibiclens and water. Perhaps check with a vet or emergency animal hospital over the phone to check if this would be appropriate treatment. It can take days to realize the full extent of the frostbite damage to feet, combs, and wattles. He can live if he should lose his foot or leg. Hoping for a good recovery. Google frostbite in chicken’s feet, and look at images for more info.

Thank you,
Never even thought of betadine or hibaclense, he has actually started walking around again and I saw him moving his toes, so i'm hopeful he will be ok, keeping the heat on for him so its close to 40 in his section of the coop today. I'm trying not to bring him in as i have no room inside for more chickens, I have a hatch of 15 chicks already.
Thank you for the advise.